A staff sergeant who has been with the Ontario Provincial Police for 22 years has been charged with assault and sexual assault.

In a news release the OPP states that their Professional Standards Bureau conducted the internal investigation. As a result of that investigation, on Tuesday the staff sergeant was arrested and charged with the crimes in relation to an incident that occurred off-duty in June 2017.

Staff Sgt. Carolle Dionne, provincial media relation coordinator for the OPP, was not at liberty to disclose where the incident took place or to what detachment the officer was attached to. The news release says the man’s identity hasn’t been released “in order to protect the identity of the victim(s).”

The officer has been suspended from duty with pay in accordance with the Police Services Act of Ontario. He’s scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in May 2018.

ORILLIA — A 22-year veteran OPP officer has been charged with assault and sexual assault.

The staff sergeant was off duty at the time of the alleged incident in June 2017. He was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by the force’s Professional Standards Bureau and faces one count of assault and one count of sexual assault.

OPP isn’t disclosing the name of the officer or where he worked, “to protect the identity of the victim(s),” according to a media release.

When asked if there could be more than one victim, Staff Sgt. Carolle Dionne said police are aware of one, but added, “because the investigation is fluid and ongoing, potentially, yes.”

She would not say whether the accused and the accuser were known to one another.

If it is determined there are more victims, or if police have more information to make public, they will release it, Dionne said.

The accused officer has been suspended with pay, as per the Police Services Act, she said.

If the officer is found guilty, the Professional Standards Bureau will begin a disciplinary hearing to determine what action to take, she added.

(ORILLIA, ON) – Members with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) conducted an internal investigation into the conduct of an off-duty OPP officer.

On April 17, 2018, the OPP arrested and charged a Staff Sergeant, with one count of assault and one count of sexual assault in relation to an off-duty incident in June 2017. The identity of the charged person is not being released in order to protect the identity of the victim(s).

The officer is a 22-year member with the OPP and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in May 2018. He has been suspended from duty with pay in accordance with the Police Services Act of Ontario.